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The
'Honours'
of Scotland
The Scottish 'Honours' are the oldest
Royal Regalia in Britain and can be seen in Edinburgh Castle.
 The 'Honours' were
first used together at the coronation of the nine-month-old
Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543, and
subsequently at the coronations of her infant son James VI (and I of
England) at Stirling in 1567 and her grandson Charles I in 1633 at
the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The
Crown almost certainly dates from before 1540 when it was remodelled
by order of James V. It was last worn at the coronation of Charles
II at Scone in 1651.
Made of solid silver, the Sceptre is
surmounted with three figures supporting a crystal globe, a
cut and polished rock crystal, with a Scottish pearl on top A
gift from the Pope, possibly given by Innocent Vlll to James IV in
1494, it was remodelled by James V who even added his initials to
the sceptre.
The Sword of State was presented to
James IV in 1507 by Pope Julius II and has a blade a metre
long.
Also displayed with the Crown Jewels in
Edinburgh Castle is the Stone of Destiny, returned to Scotland after
700 years in England. Taken by Edward 1st in 1296, the Stone is a
symbol of Scotland nationhood. It was the coronation stone for
Scottish kings such as MacBeth. Legend has it that it was "Jacob's
Pillow" on which he dreamed of the ladder of angels from earth to
heaven.
The story of the Scottish regalia is
stranger than fiction. First of all they were hidden to stop them
falling into English hands. Then, following the Treaty of Union in
1707, the ancient crown jewels of Scotland disappeared for a
century. Rumours circulated that the English had removed them to
London. However it was one of Scotland's most celebrated literary
sons who rediscovered them............
The
regalia of Scotland - the 'Honours of Scotland' - were among the
most potent symbols of Scottish nationhood. During Cromwell's
occupation of Scotland in the 1650s, the Honours were one of his
most sought after targets.
Charles I, King of
both Scotland and England, was executed in 1649 by Oliver Cromwell.
The following year his son (later Charles II) arrived in north east
Scotland in a bid to retake the two kingdoms.
The
Coronation of Charles II at Scone
Oliver Cromwell invaded
Scotland. In some haste therefore, Charles II was crowned at Scone, but
the 'Honours' could not be returned to Edinburgh Castle as it had now
fallen to Cromwell's army. The English crown jewels had already been
destroyed by Cromwell and the 'Honours' of Scotland, symbols of
monarchy, were next on his list. His army was fast advancing on Scone
and the King ordered the Earl Marischal to take the 'Honours' and many
of his personal papers to safety at Dunnottar Castle. Dunnottar Castle
was the home of the Earls Marischal of Scotland, once one of the most
powerful families in the land. The Earl Marischal oversaw all ceremonial
activities in the Scottish Court, including coronations.
It was not long before
Dunnottar was under siege and a scratch garrison of 70 men held out for
eight months against the invading forces. Soon it became obvious that
the castle was going to fall and something had to be done to save the
'Honours'. The crown, sceptre and sword were lowered over the seaward
side of the Castle and received by a serving woman, there on pretence of
gathering seaweed. She took them to the church at Kinneff, a village
several miles to the south where at first they were hidden at the bottom
of the bed in the minister's house until he could bury them more
securely in the church itself.
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The minister, Rev. James
Grainger and his wife wrapped the jewels in linen cloths and buried them
at night under the clay floor of the church. Every three
months the minister and his wife would dig up the Regalia at night to
air them to preserve them from damp and injury. The Honours remained
hidden for nine years during the Commonwealth while the English army
searched for them in vain.
At the
Restoration in 1660 the 'Honours' were returned to Charles II
and placed in Edinburgh Castle. In the absence of a resident
sovereign, the regalia were taken to sittings of the Parliament
in Edinburgh to signify the sovereign's presence and his or her
consent to the passing of each Act. When the
Scottish Parliament was dissolved in 1707, they were locked in a
chest in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle where they remained,
forgotten. |
Charles II
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Of all Scots who have formed their
countrymen and women's perceptions of Scottish history, Sir Walter Scott
was one of the most important. His romantic view of the Scottish past
helped to lead to the 'discovery' of Scotland as a popular tourist
destination.
(above) The 'discovery' of the Honours of Scotland by Sir
Walter Scott in 1818
The Prince Regent
(later George IV)
was so impressed by Sir Walter Scott's work that
In 1818 he gave him
permission to search Edinburgh Castle for the
Royal Scottish regalia. The searchers eventually found them in the
little strong room at Edinburgh Castle locked in an oak chest, covered
with linen cloths, exactly as they had been left after the Union on 7th
March 1707. They were put on display on February 4th, 1818 and have been
on view ever since in Edinburgh Castle, where thousands come to see them
each year.
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